Chateau Montelena
The Montelena Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
Took hours for funk to blow off. Still drinking ok (not great). At the end of its life. All tertiary. Not holding up nearly as well as mid 90’s mondavi’s.
Took hours for funk to blow off. Still drinking ok (not great). At the end of its life. All tertiary. Not holding up nearly as well as mid 90’s mondavi’s.
Apr 9th, 2022
From a beautiful site with a lake and gazebo, active geysers and volcanic soil is reminiscent of Italy. Even though this wine is 25 years old I found it to be quite firm and restrained. The others out shown it quite significantly. 
From a beautiful site with a lake and gazebo, active geysers and volcanic soil is reminiscent of Italy. Even though this wine is 25 years old I found it to be quite firm and restrained. The others out shown it quite significantly. 
Feb 5th, 2021
WNH Montelena Estate virtual tasting. Others represented were the ‘94 (evidently corked), ‘01, ‘03, ‘07, ‘15.
I may be an outlier here, but Montelena is one of the few wineries where I not only don’t care for them young, I just honestly don’t enjoy them at all (and that’s coming from someone who enjoys the likes of Myriad, Bevan, Rivers Marie, etc on the young side). For my preference, they are just so vastly better with 15+yrs of age to them. YMMV.
After standing this upright for about two weeks, I gave this about a 45min decant. Starting off fairly thin and having some funk to blow off, it really bulked up after an hour and a half. Dark ruby/tawny in the glass. Reminiscent of left bank Bordeaux (leather, herbs de Provence, only a hint of tobacco), but a sweet cherry liqueur and dried cranberry on the nose bring this back to possibly New World. On the palate it sports underripe and dried black cherries, red clay, cedar, bay leaf, and earthy tertiary notes. Gripping, tannic finish with balanced acidity. In harmony here. I’d say this likely has another 3-5yrs in this beautiful drinking window before evolving more.
WNH Montelena Estate virtual tasting. Others represented were the ‘94 (evidently corked), ‘01, ‘03, ‘07, ‘15.
I may be an outlier here, but Montelena is one of the few wineries where I not only don’t care for them young, I just honestly don’t enjoy them at all (and that’s coming from someone who enjoys the likes of Myriad, Bevan, Rivers Marie, etc on the young side). For my preference, they are just so vastly better with 15+yrs of age to them. YMMV.
After standing this upright for about two weeks, I gave this about a 45min decant. Starting off fairly thin and having some funk to blow off, it really bulked up after an hour and a half. Dark ruby/tawny in the glass. Reminiscent of left bank Bordeaux (leather, herbs de Provence, only a hint of tobacco), but a sweet cherry liqueur and dried cranberry on the nose bring this back to possibly New World. On the palate it sports underripe and dried black cherries, red clay, cedar, bay leaf, and earthy tertiary notes. Gripping, tannic finish with balanced acidity. In harmony here. I’d say this likely has another 3-5yrs in this beautiful drinking window before evolving more.
Tawny reddish rims. Almost opaque. Deep nose of Violet's black cherry and a little dirt. Huge structure in mouth with round and chewy fruit. Still mostly primary. Good finish. Beat expectations. Needs more time.
Tawny reddish rims. Almost opaque. Deep nose of Violet's black cherry and a little dirt. Huge structure in mouth with round and chewy fruit. Still mostly primary. Good finish. Beat expectations. Needs more time.
Jun 18th, 2016
As classic as it gets. Just beginning to hit maturity, this one has got a long life ahead of it still.
As classic as it gets. Just beginning to hit maturity, this one has got a long life ahead of it still.
Mar 4th, 2015Decent. Nice. Not great but a really good drink.
Decent. Nice. Not great but a really good drink.
Feb 15th, 2015
Drinking perfectly. Amazingly aromatic and classic on the nose. Quite deep and textured. Definitely secondary but absolutely delicious. Nice pairing with a Christmas Eve ham!
Drinking perfectly. Amazingly aromatic and classic on the nose. Quite deep and textured. Definitely secondary but absolutely delicious. Nice pairing with a Christmas Eve ham!
Dec 24th, 2023
Always a wine I can’t wait to try! Paired with grilled steaks and vegetables. Slight bell pepper but it’s age reveal more dried dark fruit.
Always a wine I can’t wait to try! Paired with grilled steaks and vegetables. Slight bell pepper but it’s age reveal more dried dark fruit.
Aug 15th, 2022Nice wine. Very port like on the nose, which is a touch surprising. Quite alcoholic - 14.1% - but doesn’t impact negatively. Crazy level of sediment. Lots of dark red fruit, definitely secondary, could use a smidge more acid. But really nice.
Nice wine. Very port like on the nose, which is a touch surprising. Quite alcoholic - 14.1% - but doesn’t impact negatively. Crazy level of sediment. Lots of dark red fruit, definitely secondary, could use a smidge more acid. But really nice.
Jun 9th, 2019